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Posted by: Jon730 Mar 17 2008, 10:28 AM

Perhaps twelve years ago, a timid black cat crept onto my deck, to steal kibble I had left out for the Raccoon Family. She was afraid of people, and would slink away when approached. Over months, she overcame her fear, and would visit me. I noticed her fur was missing in places, and she did not walk well. One day, in payment for food, she butted her head against my hand, and let me pet her for a moment, before warning me away.
Over the Summer, she began to get fat. As Fall approached, she showed up with a Tabby kitten. I had to catch them and bring them in. They were taken to the vet's immediately. It developed that "Miles", the mother had a food allergy, hence prescription food for life.
Being starved and pregnant and sick out there, it appears she was calcium deprived and her teeth and hip joints were affected.
I have had many cats and dogs in my life, and even a few reptiles, but this cat was highly intelligent, and a genuine character. She formed a devoted attachemtn to me, and declared herself my Cat Wife, and worked on me till I believed it. Even animal lover friends remarked on our "Abnormal" relationship.
She devotedly waited every day for me to come home from Work, and when I worked too long in my shop, she would come down and scream at me, her kind of ratty tail wiggling like a cheap New Years noisemaker, and demand to be carried upstairs. Her happiest moments were when I held her in my arms and stood in front of the mirror, so she could look at us together and GLOAT! The purring could be heard in the other room.
She was otherwise quite lazy, but not so much that she did not insist on being Top Cat.
She constantly schemed about sneaking into the other cat's rooms and stealing their forbidden Fancy Feast, and when caught, she would EAT at top speed before she was stopped. One day, she fell asleep on top of the television, and slept so deeply she slowly oozed down the back..and awoke just as she fell, shouting "WHOAAA!".
She was my constant companion and followed me like a dog. I have never had such total love with an animal in my life, and she sucked me in totally. She loved hearing all her names, "Miles", "Mrs. Goodcat", "Friend".
I could go on, but it is hard to type.
Over the last few weeks, she lost her appet*ite. She had a lump on her chest from the last food allgery breakout. The "Lump" was cancer which very quickly had spread to her lungs. I nearly fainted when I saw the XRays..and all this time, she purred when held, even though she apprantly could hardly breathed. She purred till the very last.
She was what a lot of people would not have bothered with..a ratty looking old sick cat..But I am so glad I met her and loved her, and have never had such a total relationship with anyone or anything. I am heartbroken.
But yet, I have contacted a nearby shelter and will be "Conducting Interviews". It hurts terribly at the moment, but I do not want to live without some chance of the next grateful rescue paying me back so beautifully.



Milesey's Favorite Trick. Sleeping.




Scheming about stealing food. Her other trick!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'll See You at the Bridge, MyCat-Wife. Wait a while, I love you.

Posted by: goliath Mar 17 2008, 03:25 PM

Jon............Your words of expression in the love you have with milesy touches my heart deeply. The special "connection" you describe is known well to me and many others.

It is so difficult to come to terms with the passing of a loved furry kid, especially when it hits you out of nowhere. I too miss having my Goliath meet me at the door, but most of all I miss him when I go to bed at night. He was my teddybear his whole life, my companion, my joy, the sparkle in my eyes, and the light of my life. Goliath captured my heart from the day we met and I captured his.

It is clear to me that you and milesy established that special love together and over the years you and she spent together, you made many beautiful memories.
May you cherish those memories for all your years to come until you and she meet again.

Your pics of milesy are as cute as can be. She definately looks like a little sneaker. I especially loved your story of her falling asleep on top of the TV. As I pictured her sleeping so soundly, only to have the rude awakening of slipping down the back of the TV I had to laugh.

Please come back and share more with us when you are ready Jon. There are so many wonderful, loving, compassionate people here that will help you through your long journey of healing. Had it not been for this site and these beautiful people I don't think I would have ever been able to function again in a happy and healthy way.

Much love to you Jon. May you be blessed with comfort and peace as you miss your sweet cat wife, milesy.

Posted by: Jon730 Mar 17 2008, 08:14 PM

She was lik that..She looked SO serious, then would turn into a clown.
But what was the very strangest thing I ever had happen with a Furry Friend, and that I could ONLY tell to animal lovers, is this....
Our intense friendship began one day after she was inside for about a year.
She woke up from her (haha) "SLeeping Station"(As opposed to 'Work Station") on my desk, and hopped down into my lap. She shoved her face toward my face and looked into my eyes. I looked into hers....and there was someone living in there.

I am sure people here have experienced something lke it. I do not mean to trivialize the Yorkies we had that certainly loved me, nor Merlin the Bombay Cat who was "mine" and who adored me.
This was something...Otherwordly, unheimlicht, almost mystical, like a dream I had the night I was in a burial chamber in Wales.

Whatever it was, at that moment, she declared me her employee.
Sometimes I see her out of the corner of my eye, and some nights I have felt her weight on my feet. Other bereaved owners have told me of things like that happening.

We will always be part of each other. This shows that we never know where lightning will strike, nor in which direction, good or bad. Who would have thought that after decades of giving a home to rescues, or breeding Siamese, this worn, sick, tattered old thing would be "The One" that was my Cat Wife. (She said!)

Thank the adinistrator who runs this board for giving me the opportunity of telling SOMEONE about my special Friend For Life.

Posted by: kimm Mar 17 2008, 10:50 PM

What a beautiful tribute to such a special cat and companion. It's hard to explain why we have that strange & wonderful connection with certain pets. But it happens, and when those special ones are gone it feels like a part of you went missing too. It takes time to heal from this. I am coming up on one year after losing my Peaches, and my heart is still broken. I still think of her every day, and miss her, and my heart is full of her. Please know, I am thinking of you now, and am so sorry for your loss.

Posted by: goliath Mar 17 2008, 11:29 PM

When you speak of looking in her eyes and seeing someone living in there I do know exactly what you are speaking of. That beautiful living soul that is so connected to us in every way lives there speaking through their love without using words, but rather feelings. You swear they must be human because of their complete understanding of us and us in them.

Goliath was the best friend I ever had, human or otherwise. From the time he was a little puppy his eyes were always very aware of where I was and he followed me everywhere. When I would teach him things, the eagerness he showed to understand amazed me. In less than 5 minutes I could teach him anything. He would tilt his sweet little face to the right, and then to the left and study my eyes and what I was saying and I could just see the lightbulb turn on. We danced together. He always let me know when it was time to go to bed. All the different commands I taught him from rolling over, saluting, closing cupboards, giving kissess and many many more were not only fun for him and I, but the communication was completely unreal. He even learned to pick up his toys and put them away. At times I thought he was superhuman as he seemed to really be a thinker as well as a little stinker.

When Goliath passed away so suddenly in my loving arms, he looked deep into my eyes and mine in his and we both knew the angels were standing nearby to return him to God's almighty hands. I know in my heart that he and I will be reunited in heaven and I will love him til the day after forever.

Bless you Jon for sharing such an inspiring account of the love you and milesy shared and will continue to share til you and she meet again.

Posted by: Jon730 Mar 18 2008, 11:10 AM

She had such expressions.
So...One day she was happily sitting on my legs, when Sam, the Shelter Siamese who has been with us for ten years, decided she wanted her Daddy, and encroached on Miles' "Property".
Sam is still doing fine, and acts like a kitten.
Miles, however, was in the kind of jealous snit about her "Property" and steamed for a few minutes before stalking off in a snit:





Miles and Sam got along like two jealous teenage sisters. But Murphy, the black Norwegian Forest Cat, was a longhaired black cat who superficailly like her. When Miles was outdoors sick and starving, she would come up to feed on the deck, and look in the slider at Murphy, who was well-fed and warm. The two used to HATE each other through the glass, and when Miles came in, it was Murph's worst nightmare, so for ten years they each stayed out of each other's way. I am saddened that they never got over it.
Murphy is strutting around with her tail up, gloating. I guess I cannot blame her, because Miles was overbearing, but still, I wish she had a little more class about it.

Posted by: LoveThem Mar 18 2008, 02:14 PM

Your Miles is a beautiful girl...as you can tell from my avatar..I love black cats. I did just lose 3 siblings over the past few years..the most recent was my favorite..Little Guy. His story also involved cancer and a breathing problem that meant he had to leave me.

I did adopt a black cat from our local shelter who I named Lucky. He is a distraction and never learned so many things cause he originally was abandoned but he does help to have him here. At times..he looks close to my others..physically.

I am sorry you lost Miles but I am glad you had 12 years with her. We just should have so much more time with our special ones. I see your special bond with her...I love the pictures you posted. They are just such beautiful babies.

Write about her anytime. It is the good memories that help us deal with the loss. We never get over it but if we can prevent it from overwhelming us..that's a start.

Take Care and know you are not alone in your grief...we all are there or have been there and we have strong shoulders for each other. I'm glad you have your others so your home is not empty...emptiness makes it harder to heal sometimes.

Posted by: goliath Mar 18 2008, 08:14 PM

Hi Jon. I read in LoveThem's thread that her pics made you smile. Her pics always leave me smiling too.

If you haven't yet checked out my threads, please see Heartfelt Letter for Goliath as well as my other threads. You can bet you will receive many smiles and warm feelings all over from them. Goliath left me the very best stories and pics to share with everybody. How lucky am I to hold and tell about all the years of memories we made together.

I have been so blessed in my life with meaningful relationships both with people as well as my precious loves with Goliath and Gidget.

Hugs to you Jon.

Posted by: toonie Mar 23 2008, 06:06 AM

Hugs to you Jon what a beautiful story you tell about Mrs Goodcat, you are truly a cat person who talks to cats! How lucky for Milesy, because I think you are exactly what and who she needed here, she found her soulmate in you. Beautiful furniture, ha ha I love stuff like that, it impresses me so much more than a table devoid of any history!
And of course, that rainbow picture, with the bridge going upwards to high heavens, well what a message, to soothe your precious heart. Take care Jon you are a wonderful cat dad, cat husband and cat person. xoxoxoxo

Posted by: goliath Mar 23 2008, 07:17 AM

Happy Easter to you Jon. As you celebrate this glorious remembrance and give thanks for all He has given us, may you find peace in knowing that Miles is with our ultimate and all loving Creator and Saviour.

Peace to you my friend.

Posted by: Jon730 Mar 23 2008, 08:59 AM

Thank You
<><

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/a/a177a.html

Posted by: goliath Mar 23 2008, 09:36 AM

As I am trying to write this reply through tears of joy, words cannot express the overwhelming flood of emotion going through me.

Thank you Jon for sending such an inspirational expression of faith and love. The compassion and love you pass onto others can only be by way of heaven. It is He who has set the example for us to follow and it is up to us whether or not we follow His example. Blessed is he who comforts in the Name of Our Lord.

Posted by: MY*SWEET*BUBBA Mar 23 2008, 06:56 PM

((((Jon))))

I am new to this board and have actually never posted yet. But I HAD to write you to tell you how much your love stories about your beloved Miles affected me. I am writing this through many tears so please excuse any typos. My sweet son and soul-mate, Bubba, left me January 8th of this year after 18 1/2 beautiful years together. I still grieve sometimes as much now as I did at the time. It has been the absolute worst thing I have ever gone through. We had been together since I was 20 years old, my entire adult life, and he was 3 weeks old--just a tiny black fuzz ball, alone and abandoned. From the time I first looked deep into his eyes, I was also struck, like you, and realized that " there was someone living in there". I've never heard it stated as eloquently but your words seem to resonate all that I felt, and feel, about my Bubba as well.
I have a lifetime of memories about Bubba and could write novels about the incredible things he did, like bringing me flowers in his mouth when I was crying. I wish he could bring me flowers one last time. He was the special one in my life and I'm afraid I will never be the same now that he is no longer in this world.

Thank you for sharing your memories of your precious Miles. You will both be in my thoughts and prayers tonight.My wise old man-boy, Summer 2007 at 18 years of age

Looking toward the Bridge
Here's one for ya...Bubba and his Siamese "sister", Medina who he shared 16 years of his life with. She left for the Bridge 2 years ago...


Wait for me, Bubby

Thank you again
Cherie, Bubba's Forever mommy

((((((((JON AND MILESY))))))))
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Posted by: Jon730 Mar 23 2008, 07:39 PM

He could me Milesey's uncle, by the looks. I have been wondering why Miles and I had such a deep relationship..I have loved other cats, who felt the same way about me, but it did not have the depth. I think possibly I have gotten old enough so I do not care if I make a fool of myself over an animal any more. At my age, 60+, I have many animal friends in the past who I look back upon, and miss very much. They all seemed very much to have individual souls, yet Miles was something beyond that.
I may have been ready, and she was ready..Had I not taken her in she would not have survived the coyotes, etc..,..and she KNEW it.

Gibran said, "...A friend is your needs answered".

I could hold her up to the window, ans say, "Remember when you lived OUTSIDE?"..And she would purr and rub her head all over my face.
I could shout, "Milesy..BRUSH." and she would come running..she loved to be brushed.

Now, this is not to demean my other firends at the Bridge. Fro example, here are some dears from long ago..1977 to 1988 and '90:
Merlin was the Bombay, and his wife, Harmony, the Tonkinese: My wife painted this, and t*itled it "Never-ending Love".


So when I fuss about Miles, Yes, she was Most Special..But I must remember the ones before her.
Can it be I am at an age where the next cat could outlive me?? I wonder !

Posted by: MY*SWEET*BUBBA Mar 24 2008, 09:45 AM

Your stories of Milesy made me cry and smile at the same time. How can this hurt so bad? I've experienced a lot of loss in my life, many furbabies have passed before Bubba. But the loss of him has cut me so very deeply.

The painting your wife made is so incredibly beautiful, BTW. She is truly gifted.

In Peace, Cherie
~Bubba's forever mommy!

Posted by: Jon730 Mar 24 2008, 10:27 AM

My friend Merlin died on my birthday one year, so that memorial is "built In" for good.

Yes, the stories here and the people who write them do the same to me, and it does not seem to matter what species the friend is. (Well, OK, though I am still a little sad about my long-ago Boa Constrictor "Fab", Or Lyle The Tortoise, we never really developed a personal bond the way we do with fellow mammals...)

The stories and feelings help me get mine out, and though I am sad when I log off here, the desolation and despair is helped greatly, because
1) Other people obviously know how it feels.
2) There is hope for another great friend in the future. Other people have experienced these relationships, so it means they are possible again.
3) We work through the feelings this way and exorcise some of the worst.

And:
I see the computer's air intake is full of Miles Fur.



"Work is Love made visible".

We all make our memorials in our own way. Her world ended when Matilda the Aussie died of cancer, and that was twelve years ago or so. She was never the same.
She got her feelings out with her brushes.

I cannot paint, so here I am....

Posted by: LoveThem Mar 24 2008, 06:55 PM

Well, Bubba's Mommy and Jon730:

Your stories and beautiful pictures are making me type this through tears..the stories and words are so loving of your special ones and your pictures just take my breath away. Cause..as you can see from my Avatar, Little Guy, I love these black furry babies. I had 3 and Little Guy and Keeper were twin brothers. Their pictures and stories are listed below to tell you what sections they are in.

And yes Jon I can relate to your question about could the next cat outlive me?
I've thought about that..If I were to be blessed with one who goes 16 like my Little Guy then it is possible but I cannot go even months without one of these special ones..they mean so much in our lives, in our home and the one I adopted from the SPCA shelter in December...who I named Lucky...I do know that he will always have a home because if anything ever happened the SPCA takes their own back and gives them a home for life.

I don't expect to be around in 20 years but I believe 16 is possible again..if I'm lucky I will live as long as my parents and I will make sure any special one I get will be taken care of in the future.

All I know is once that unconditional love has been experienced...it is addictive and it is much harder going through life without it. At least whoever I get will have the best care and the most love I can give them and will never know abuse so hopefully for what I am getting from them....I am giving them something special and a promise back in return.

There are so many I saw when I went looking...that are ready to give their love and just ask for a good home and any love in return. The ones I have lost paved the way for the future ones I get. It is a never-ending journey but well worth going.

Peace and hugs to both of you...my thoughts are also of Bubba and Miles and when I look at their pictures, I can understand the connection you felt and the bond you developed and am glad you had them, you knew them, you were able to give them your love and receive their unconditional love in return, and have so many memories. Their worth is priceless!

Posted by: goliath Mar 24 2008, 07:08 PM

The way your wife was able to paint such an expression of love is a truly a wonderful and God given gift. The depth of her love for Merlin and Harmony is quite evident and very much appreciated and admired by me. I also appreciate and find your verbal expressions of love very consoling as well, Jon.

The stories, pics, and now your wife's painting all tell me a bigger story about both of you. You both have much love in your lives that you freely share with all those who care to share it with you.

Thanks again for all the love and caring you and your wife bring into this world.

Much love to you both........Beth <><

Posted by: Jon730 Mar 24 2008, 08:10 PM

Tonight I was down in my shop, and I was packing and shipping some products. It went smoothly, and suddenly I realized that was because Miles did not come down and scream at me to get back upstairs. She did not stand on the shipping scale as usual to screw me up, nor did she climb inside the cartons.
It was a horrible few minutes, and I had been doing fairly well for the last few days.

Here is what helps me through it.
Somewhere at this instant, there is a cat who needs me, and could die if I do not meet him (I am getting a young male this time so the Old Ladies will have an easier time accepting a new arrival. ) Miles insisted on owning me and being Top Cat, which suppressed the other two badly.
In a week or two, when I am contacted by the Rescue Society I will conduct interviews. I will make eye contact and ask, "Who wants to win the lottery and be spoiled rotten?".
One will run forward and jump into my arms. (This has happened before!)
From that moment on, the New Hire and I will be intensely imprinting our personalities on each other. We will become an item.

Miles can never be replaced....That is a given. My relationship with her is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and she truly was, as she insisted, my Cat Wife.
But neither can any in my life, human, dog, or cat, be replaced. it would be crass and vulgar and obscene if I were to "Get another Pet". It would blaspheme the concept of friendship and stewardship.

I suspect the reason I am more cat person is because my dogs gave me love and loyalty, without question, and were wonderful friends.

But a cat says, "PROVE IT, and IF you are worthy, We will graciously deign to favour you, if it pleases My Royal Self".
And once a cat accepts you completely, you are promoted to a different level of Animal's Friend. (Or "Servant" Ha!)

I am not a "Universal Cat Person" Though, as I learned last year.
A dear friend has a cat that she has had for sixteen years, a tuxedo. Her cat HATES my guts. (Though she bites her mistress's ankles if she is not fed on time, so it's no big loss.)

It takes all kinds of "people", I guess....

Posted by: goliath Mar 24 2008, 09:19 PM

[QUOTE=Jon730,Mar 24 2008, 08:10 PM]
One will run forward and jump into my arms. (This has happened before!)
From that moment on, the New Hire and I will be intensely imprinting our personalities on each other. We will become an item.


Your desription of bringing a new love into your life reminds me of how I met Goliath. I had a catlove in my life for 19 1/2 years. She was a beautiful black cat named Jezebel who was full of bliss and content and shared in a happy, loving, and long life with us. She left us on January 24th 1997 and amongst other moments we shared that I missed so much, I missed her sitting in my lap.

Her eyes changed color often in her moods. But when she was feeling particularly content, her eyes turned a beautiful shade of turquoise and her purring would begin to sound like a motor running. I was lost without her and was reluctant to bring a new catlove into my heart.

About 6 or 7 weeks after her death I was looking through the newspaper and noticed that someone had chihuahua puppies. Surprisingly enough my husband agreed to go and "just look" at them while making no promises.

When we met Goliath it was love at first sight as he struggled to part from the rest of his siblings. He picked me just as much as I picked him. Guess what.........Goliath was born on January 25th, 1997 which was the day after my catlove Jezebel passed away.

Posted by: Jon730 Mar 25 2008, 08:05 AM

First meetings are special..I jokingly call them "Interviews". The differences between dogs and cats is so funny!

Pepper the Yorkie was brought home from the breeder by my wife..I had not met him. His eyes lit up, and...

"OBOY! A Male! Bet it's my new Alpha! Cool! I have PLANS! Hey! Throw a ball..come on! Let's go run around the house a few times and BARK!
Haha, Hey Boss..the neighbor has a flower garden...Know what I'm thinking? Hahahaha Come on, Dare You!!!!
NO! I am NOT the one who wrote "Jon" in the snow!!"

Merlin the Bombay Cat:

"Hmph. A big ugly MALE with no fur. O Great. Wait a minute. Is that a FOOD BOWL??
Forget what I said, I was only kidding.
Well, how about having me sit on your shoulder. You do the walking, while I inspect my new realm.
This furniture will have to go. Give me a month, and don't look, OK?
(A few months later.)
This guy understands me. We are great friends. He is SO lucky. He seems to have shrunk, though because now when I sit on his shoulder I have to curl around his neck and use both of them-But I'll put up with his failings, because he is my friend."

Posted by: goliath Mar 25 2008, 08:48 AM

LOL The style you chose to use in your posting made me laugh so hard. That was a very creative way to describe the differences between cats and dogs. To say it from their perspectives while showing the differences in their language could not have been said better.

One thing that both cats and dogs do share in common is the love, happiness and meaning they add to our lives. These remembrances have become a permanent part of my soul to cherish for the rest of my days. I have been truly blessed in my life to have had such loves and happiness to tell about.

On Easter Sunday we went to my sister's home. She had taken a new puppy into her home because a co-worker of hers was having difficulty finding a good home for him. Our arrival was a little bit earlier than she had expected. The puppy was outside with my nephew when she came out and told me she was sorry and her intention was to put the puppy upstairs so I wouldn't be saddened.

While I did tell her I appreciated her concern and love for me in protecting my feelings, I said "gimme that little bundle of joy, he isn't going to spend Easter Sunday locked away." Guess where Cudjoe spent the remainder of the day? We played together hard and inbetween our bouts of play he slept quietly in my arms.

It was marvelous and quite healing for me to engage with Cudjoe and his energetic little self. The sheer joy he brought me with so much excitement and laughter touched me deeply. My jaw actually hurt after laughing so much.

Laughter is great medicine for me. For that matter, it is good for anybody. It nourishes and helps heal our wounded hearts.

Thanks for the cat and dog dialogue LOL Gee it feels so great to laugh.

Posted by: Jon730 Mar 25 2008, 07:40 PM

I thought that as someone who had a Compact Canine, you would instantly identify Pepper's att*itude.
A neighbor with a big Lab used to call Pepper "A weasel on caffeine".
Pepper annoyed and taunted him no end.

Posted by: goliath Mar 26 2008, 08:01 AM

A weasel on caffeine huh? LOL now there's a sight to see. Are you telling me Pepper was a little agitator? For sure I know my Golaith could be such a stinker at times.

Since my Goliath was such a sissy and definately a Mama's boy he didn't aggitate other animals, but he did have his own way of getting attention when he wanted it.

When he was a puppy we had to find a way to deter him from chewing. So each time he would get something in his mouth we would take one of those braided rag chew ropes with the finges on the ends and tickle his face with it. He quickly learned to drop whatever was in his mouth and play with the rope.

One day I was sitting in my chair cross st*itching when Goliath jumped in my lap and dropped his football. When I reached for the football he promptly snatched my embroidery floss and took off running through the grateroom leaving a tangled mess of threads behind him. He showed me he could deter my attention just as well as I could deter his.

Posted by: forduffy Mar 26 2008, 04:06 PM

Hi Jon,
I have been so busy lately with life that I haven't really been coming around these forums but it turns out that I miss them terribly. First, I'd like to express how sorry I am for your loss of your catwife, Miles. It hurts and I wonder if it ever stops. I lost my Duffy last September and some days, I can so easily just start sobbing, no matter where I am as the intense pain floods over me. But this forum is here and has been such a life saving agent.

I would also like to say that I love the way that you express yourself through this thread. I do understand how some of our furbabies seem to bond with us effortlessly and we miss them so terribly when they are gone. I have never had a cat but have always wanted one. Every member in my family while growing up was allergic including myself and now I've gone and married a man who is allergic. But my husband and I have always loved and wanted cats so we will be adopting sometime soon and just getting some allergy shots-it's worth it. We are moving in May of this year so we are waiting to have a nice home for our babies to come home to. In any case, it is also nice to see that you will be adopting soon. I wish you much luck and enjoyment with your newhire. Although it seems as if after the interview, it's we humans who are the new hires and the cats are boss.

Take care and I wish you peace during this time when your loss is so fresh.

Posted by: Jon730 Mar 26 2008, 05:06 PM

I had one of those today. I repaced a lot of the woodwork because of Miles. Today, I was cleaning up outside and cutting some old lumber up for disposal, and came across the clawed-up scutlpturing she did. It's little odd things like that that trigger memories and leave me empty. I have tried everything in dealing with it.

I tried telling myself, "Actually she was an irascible, independent cat, who caused a lot of trouble, and cost a fortune in special diets, vet bills, damaged woodwork, and two other poor cats who were intimidated and ruled by her could have had happier lives."

THEN I hear her voice from beyond the Grave:

" I was cold and wet and sick.
I was ugly, with half my fur missing.
My tail looked like it belonged on a possum, or a big rat.
I lived under a tool shed. I was pregnant.
I hated people and used to slink away from them, because I had a home once, and something went wrong, and I can never trust them. again.
But someone began leaving food out for me.
He started waiting for me. Sometimes he would make a strange sound, and there would be food.
I began to feel stronger. One day, I was actually glad to see him, and I rubbed my head against him, to mark him as mine.
The nights begin to get very cold.
Suddenly, one day, he took me and my baby inside where it was warm.
He took us to a place with other animals and stuck needeles into use, then took us home.
I feel good.
I am so happy, that I followed him downstairs to his shop, and as he worked, I played with a mousey toy on the floor, to show him I was valuable.
There are other cats here, but he is mine, and I have put them on notice.
I love him; When is he coming home? I wait. He put a little bed in the window so I can watch for him.
I HEAR HIS CAR! Quick! Look like you have been awake all day!!
A quick cleaning to be pretty, and run to the door!!!
The seasons come and go. We grow closer and closer. He saves the best and select Chickie for me from his plate. I like to sleep curled around his head. I never stop purring. I am the Queen of the World. The seasons come and go.
I am not feeling well, but he is there with love, and I purr and purr.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is cold and dark in the ground.
I wait for you, Jon, Love of my Life."

Posted by: goliath Mar 26 2008, 06:09 PM

Jon........I am so sorry that you had a sad day. In time you will have fewer sad days as the happier memories creep into them. The mementos found long after our furloves haved passed can often stir up the sadness that lies within us as we miss them so much. I am still finding little things around the house that has Goliath's memory attached to them. Yesterday I found his bimple bone stashed way back in the closet. When I find these mementos I like to think of it as Goliath coming home to say hello. He has left many smiles here in our home and I am sure I will find many more mementos for some time to come.

Perhaps they know that the odds are that we will live longer than they will. Maybe they have an insight and leave those souvenirs purposely so that we will always have something to smile about. Makes we wonder.

Though Miles body is in her grave, you know where her loving soul is. I don't have to tell you that. Have faith that in time your days will become brighter and full of sunshine. You have a big heart that may take a long time to mend.

The words you expressed from Mile's perspective tells me you are a very open minded person who looks at life from others perspectives and not just your own. That in of itself is a gift of love.

May you cherish all of the beautiful memories you and Miles made together.

Posted by: LoveThem Mar 27 2008, 12:50 PM

Jon:

I love hearing Miles "talk". I look at your avatar and see what a beautiful sweetheart she was and then I read your words of her "talking" and the story is so meaningful and beautiful. She must be "talking" from your heart.

Posted by: Jon730 Mar 27 2008, 07:34 PM

One friend of mine called them, "Kind of like a smaller version of a dog, but with a bad att*itude".

I think that was unfair.
It could have been "Anarchist att*itude", maybe. I love both creatures, but in different ways on different levels. Dogs are pack animals and can relate to us in ways cats cannot. Cats can make emotional deals with us that dogs do not.
Cats and dogs can become friends with each other, even. My Yorkie grew up with cats, and confused the species all the time.

OK, I frankly had a bad week, emotionally and am going to tell a funny story, and hope it crosses no lines here.
My mother was visiting one day, when the Tonkinese cat was crawling and calling across the floor. She was in heat. My mother said something like, "Oh the poor cat."
Suddenly, Pepper ran up the the cat and mounted her. My mother screamed in disgust, "Put that horrible male dog away somewhere!!! Your little nieces are coming to vist later!!!"
And as she said this, Pepper turned, while not stopping his activities, and SMILED at her. (You know how dogs do that smile of theirs....something not seen in cats.)
She freaked out.
Yup, that's my dog.

One boring Winter afternoon, we were all lounging around. The dogs and cats were dozing, no one was doing anything, and we wanted to liven things up, and hit on the idea of giving Pepper's coat a little squirt of catnip spray.

Pepper found himself the object of sudden affection by the cats, and was at the bottom of the cat pile. He liked it.

Posted by: LoveThem Mar 27 2008, 08:09 PM

Jon: That's two stories and I have just laughed out loud 2 x.

Thanks for the laughter. It does a body good.

I just finished new posting of my adopted kitty, Lucky in New Beginnings...the topic that says he is not camera shy in case you wanted to maybe have a smile on me this time.

Posted by: goliath Mar 27 2008, 08:14 PM

The story of your Mother is hillarious. I can just picture this happening. No doubt she was completely appalled and you held in your laughter. Am I right?

Your story of of Pepper mounting your Tonkinese triggers a very funny story that happened with my mother-in-law. She was about 84 at the time.

All of my inlaws along with us took a trip to the cider mill. There were 10 of us altogether. After filling our picnic baskets with goodies we found a picnic table near the river and layed out our spread. Gidget and Goliath were under the table as the rest of us enjoyed our food and each others company.

My mother-in-law is a very complex individual and always has been. She dresses to this day in perfect coordination along with her nylons and polished shoes to go with her dresses, her hats, makeup and jewelry.

SUDDENLY..........Goliath got up from where he was laying. He walked over to where she was sitting where he could only see her legs. He raised his leg and peed all over hers! My niece was sitting next to her with a mouth full of food when she looked down, began to laugh and spit her food all over the table, as she screamed......."GOLIATH JUST PEED ALL OVER GRANDMA'S LEG!!!" Everybody stayed completely silent trying to hold in their laughter and wait for my mother-in-law's reaction since she doesn't have much of a sense of humor. LOL After what seemed like a very long time, my mother-in-law actually burst out laughing herself and the rest of us joined in. YUP!!! That's my boy!

Posted by: Jon730 Mar 28 2008, 07:45 PM

"My child can do no wrong"! Cats do not seem to care very much, but dogs are good at putting on the "Guilty" act.

Matilda the Aussie Terrier used to like to eat muchrooms in the yard, despite our begging her not to.
One day she was BARKING furiously at her water bowl.
"Hydrophobia!! She has RABIES!" We were freaking out.

It turned out that SHE was the one who was. I went out and looked at the mushrooms that had spouted. Amanita Muscaria.
We took her to the vet's, liver function tests were OK, and she recovered quickly.

BUT:
"Though generally considered poisonous, Amanita muscaria is otherwise famed for its hallucinogenic properties with its main psychoactive const*ituent being the compound muscimol. The mushroom has had a religious significance in Siberian culture and possibly also in ancient Indian and Scandinavian cultures.
"

Oh Great. A Tripping dog. Thereafter I used to get outside first and get rid of them, because she _LIKED_ it.

Posted by: katzen11 Mar 29 2008, 03:58 AM

thank you for sharing the touching lovestory of
Jon and his cat-wife Miles.
Eva

Jon, the painting of your wife is really beautiful.
this is a very special thread.
at the end you made me smile.
(Pepper and the cat,
goliath and the mother-in-law.........)

Posted by: goliath Mar 29 2008, 05:22 PM

Perhaps Matilda was a religious Siberian Aussie Terrier whose genes caused her cravings. You were very lucky that the outcome wasn't worse. You and she must have had a little chat about rehab so she could detox. I can see you beating her to the yard and getting those magical mushrooms before she did. You really didn't want to have her arrested for using illegal drugs. LOL.........That is quite a story that had a happy ending.

Posted by: Jon730 Mar 29 2008, 06:14 PM

It did and it may not have.

At 12 she died of liver cancer. We will never know for certain, but some "Toadstools" contain compounds such as hydrazines which are known carcinogens. She would hunt them and sneak them as often as she could.
So dog owners should take extreme care about these. Some species deliberately smell horrible, to attract flies...and we know what dogs are curious about tasting, to put it delicately.

To end on a light note, I saw a cartoon once of a woman staring at a supermarket display. There were two bins:

One was labelled "MUSHROOMS: $5.95/ Pound".
The other was labelled "MUSHROOMS??: 50 Cents/Pound."

As a person who delights in finding the eminently edible Morel by some certain stumps in May, it hit home...

Posted by: goliath Mar 30 2008, 09:17 PM

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh........The marvelous morel. We go upnorth with a friend of ours, Glen, who seems to know exactly where to find those delicious treats. It has been nearly 2 years now that we have gone due to illnesses and other factors. But this year we are able to go and my hubby has already talked to Glen and his wife about going.

Thanks for the important info on toadstools. I was not aware of that at all. We live on a private lake where all kinds of animals live and that includes toads as well. I will be sure to pay attention when I have my Gidget out there this summer.

Posted by: forgeorge May 17 2008, 10:40 PM

I know how you feel.I am heart broken at the loss of my george.I made a vow that when I'm ready ,I will also rescue another cat,and give it a good life to the best of my ability.It will never replace George,but I already feel a need to fill the void where george once lived.They have gone to a better place to wait for us to re-unite.So many things I wish I had done differently now that he's gone.Wish I had paid more attention etc...We get caught up in life sometimes.But I believe he knows somehow.I miss him so much,I am truly heart broken.God bless you and your family....human and animal.

Posted by: Jon730 May 18 2008, 07:51 AM

When you are ready, please read the post below, and note the difference in my mood from this thread. A few weeks after Milesy died, I began interviewing, in hopes of someday having another relationship like the one I had with my Cat Wife. I miss her so much, every day..but this guy actually made me laugh out loud for the first time since March.

You have a lot of hurt, but also a lot of free-floating love that has nowhere to go at present.


http://lightning-strike.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=4601

Posted by: Jon730 Mar 21 2010, 05:45 PM

Milesey, my CatWife,
Two years since you went West. It's no better for me when I tell people stories about you, because you were such a one-in-a-million. The new guy's brithday shares your Bad Day by a week, so I cannot mention him in New Beginnings without remebering saying goodbye, and how terrible it was to come home from the vet crying, and for the first time in decades drinking Scotch straight from the bottle, so I could face throwing your special food, and the window bed you used to use for watching me come home away.

I'll always love you especially.

Posted by: Jon730 Mar 18 2012, 07:55 AM

Posted by: DannysMom Mar 18 2012, 04:43 PM

Jon730, I was really touched by the wonderful stories you wrote about Miles. I loved the story you wrote about her how she saw her life. That was very special. She truly was a unique character!

Posted by: asorryone Mar 18 2012, 07:28 PM

John730, Your stories of Miles made me laugh You had a truly beautiful relationship and it is soo good you can look back fondly! We will all meet again at Rainbow Bridge! Youve inspired me

Posted by: katzen11 Mar 21 2012, 11:53 AM

feeling with You, my dear old friend Jon
Eva

though I did and do love so much my cats
the one and only is Freya, my sweet boxerlady (1965-1975)
my heart is still pounding when I am seeing a boxer-dog.

I guess, for each and every pet we were happy to live with, there is another story.
But they are all loved so much.

Posted by: Jon730 May 26 2013, 01:29 PM

FIVE YEARS +
Well. Milesy, I have still not replaced the woodwork you clawed up. I may not.
Once in a while you still come to me in dreams, so I know our love goes on.
There will never be another like you.

Posted by: Jon730 Mar 23 2014, 08:08 AM

And another year. SIX YEARS since we had to say Goodbye.
I came home from the vet that day, and for the first time in many decades, drank Scotch hastily from the bottle.
The first few weeks passed in a blur. I threw away your window bed, from which you used to await my return home from Work.
I donated your special food to the shelter.
It was not getting better. I never smiled again.
Your visits began to make things better. A dark blur in the corner of the eye.
Visits in dreams. Adventures and travels we took, games we had played.

When love beckons to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams
as the north wind lays waste the garden.

For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

Posted by: DannysMom Mar 23 2014, 12:10 PM

Jon, angel-versaries are tough. I hope today is treating you kindly. Miles was such an amazing cat and you had a truly special relationship with her.